8mm anyone?

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Old Scratch

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I am looking to build (or have built...I have a great gunsmith) an 8mm custom bolt. Question is, what chamberings are available and what are members' experiences with these? I am willing to custom form brass, if necessary, but I don't want to go the whole distance of pioneering an entirely new cartidge. Is there something out there with even more punch than 8mm Rem Mag?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.
 
8x57 of course. Nothing wrong with a .30-06 with a slightly bigger bullet. One very potent 8mm is the 8mm Remington Magnum, not very popular, but packs a real punch. It's a magnum length round that requires a magnum length action.

The 8x64 would be a good wildcat. I'll go with that suggestion, too. :D
 
There are a bunch of standard 8mm cartridges that you can choose from, like the 8mm Mauser to the 8x68S European rounds. The American 8mm Remington Magnum is a potent rounds as is the 325 WSM, which is truly an 8mm. Then you can consider wildcats like the 8mm-06, 8mm-338, or any number of large cases necked to 8mm. The 378 Weatherby case will still burn copious amounts of powder when necked to 8mm.
You pay your money and you make your choice, because it's all good.


NCsmitty
 

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I have several rifles in 8x57 but I would not choose to build a custom gun in any 8mm bore size. Why do an 8mm? There are far better choices in other calibers when it comes to bullet selection and cost. Compare what's available in .308 to the .323 selection. Compare costs. Makes no sense to me to go with an 8mm.

If you insist, then I suggest the original 8x57. If you want something exotic (and again I advise against based on personal experience) how about an 8mm Remington Magnum? A failure in the marketplace (gee, I wonder why?) it was a real powerhouse and it's something that not every Tom, Dick and Harry will have at the range.
 
I've got a box of 8mm REM. Mag. For sale if you want to see what you're getting into. PM me and we can work something out as they ain't cheap but I will give you a deal.

Another thing about 8mm RM is the case is belted.
 
I always wanted one in 8x64 S Brenneke. There's also the 8x68 but I've never seen that one in the flesh

I’ve got an 8x68 (Steyr MOD S) that I picked up while stationed in Germany. With handloads it’s about the ballistic equivalent of a .338W, and only slightly slower than the 8mm REM. My 8x68 and Steyr combo is a pretty accurate set-up and responds well to load development.

The brass while expensive is stoutly constructed and lasts pretty well.

Chuck
 
I have several rifles in 8x57 but I would not choose to build a custom gun in any 8mm bore size. Why do an 8mm? There are far better choices in other calibers when it comes to bullet selection and cost.

Pretty much how I feel about 8mm and I have a couple of milsurps in the caliber. My SIL, OTOH, is infatuated with his sporterized K98. He has a .270 WSM, a .308, a .30-30 and a few other rifles and the K98 seems to be what he takes afield. He shot his last deer with it before he left for Afghanistan, at least the last one he got on my place. He shot one on a friend's place this season just after getting home, not sure what he used.

For me, though, 7mm (.284") and .30 caliber have great bullet selection. My .308 is a favorite. I wouldn't trade it for an 8x57 sporter. YMMV
 
8mm Mag

I can't imagine why you would want or need something more powerful in a shoulder fired rifle than an 8mm mag.....I have a Rem 700 chambered for that.. I have shot Elk with it and frankly did not need nearly that much rifle.. I would not feel undergunned with that rifle facing whatever came along anywhere on the planet. I have been shooting big bore and magnum rifles since the 60's and I have always thought the 8mm was one of the "unsung hero's".....I also have a Rem 700 in the 8mm mag that I built into a tactical long range rifle.....26 " bl and tactical stock and bi pod.....mounted with Nightforce glass and 20 moa base....I can easily reach out beyond 1200 yds with that cannon. I also shoot 300 RUM's, 338 Lapua's, and 50 BMG rifles.....and the 8mm mag with the right bullet can hang right in there with them.
 
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Why 8mm like many others was pretty much what I thought. If you look at bullet selection you can see few choices in 8mm while there are hundreds in .308 or 7mm (.284). IMHO bullet selection and availability is the limiting factor in what I choose. YMMV but I know 308 will always be available
 
Why 8mm like many others was pretty much what I thought. If you look at bullet selection you can see few choices in 8mm while there are hundreds in .308 or 7mm (.284). IMHO bullet selection and availability is the limiting factor in what I choose. YMMV but I know 308 will always be available

.308 caliber projectiles aren't very available right now... 8mm on the other hand can still be had quite readily.

Some people just like to be different, I'm one of them. I love 6.5 and 7mm stuff, but I sold my 7mm Rem Mag. Too mainstream for my taste, and it couldn't really accomplish much my 7x57 Ackley Improved won't do with a lot less powder burnt up in the process.

I agree with others, no real need for any more power than an 8mm Rem Mag. That cartridge packs one heck of a wallop. If you're looking for a unique build on an 8mm bore, why not try an 8x60? After The Great War, when the German military was severely restricted, and civilians were prevented from owning military caliber rifles, many of the 8x57 Mausers had their chambers lengthened to 8x60 and were sporterized into civilian rifles. Brass should be easily formed from .30-06 cases, and I believe there are at least a few sources for commercial brass alread in 8x60. Then again, a straight 8mm-06 would probably be easier and is another great choice. 8x64 or 8x68 would also be unique choices that you could get factory brass for.

You might also consider stepping up to the 9.3mm bore, which is also quite popular in Europe. Several unique chamberings available in it as well.
 
yes theres more 30 cal bullets then 8mm bullets but who really cares. theres partitions and barnes x for the big stuff. Hornady, seirra, and speer and nosler all make good bullets for medium game and in the last 30 years owning my 8mm ive yet to have a single problem finding bullets to load. Just the opposite. Durning these times of shortages when people are hording about everything its easier to find bullets on the shelf for an 8mm then it is a .30. At least it is around here. Same with places like midway. When everything is sold out youll still find 8mm bullets. Add in the fact that someone who owns an 8mag isnt shooting 500 rounds out of it a year. Im lucky if mine is shot a 100 times so if i have even 500 bullets on the shelf for it they will last a good long time. Another thing is yes theres more .30 cal bullets made but half of them are either to heavy or two light for most guns and uses. I dont need a 110 grain 8mm bullet and i dont need a round nosed 180. There are plenty of good designs made for both the 8 mauser and 8mag. Now ive heard the argument that if you loose your ammo you can buy 06 or 300 mag about anywhere. Might be true but i cant imagine going on a hunt and losing my ammo or forgetting it and as to finding o6 ammo, you might want to look on the shelfs today. Good luck finding some. Dont get me wrong i love the 06 and own 5 differnt .30 cal mag rifles but that doesnt mean i cant justify my 8 mag. Its near as flat shooting as my 300 wby and hits as hard as a 338 mag.
 
It all depends on what action you are working with. If you're starting with a Mauser action, an 8mm06 is about the most cartridge you can use w/o doing a lot of machine work on the action. With either the 8x57 or 8mm06, the 180 BT and 200 Partition will do all you should expect a .323 to do.
 
+1 mobuck

I have three 8x57 mausers, 1-sporter & 2-milsurps, Sierra 175 grn Pro Hunters, Nosler 180 grn Ballistic Tips & 200 grn Partitions
is all I will ever need for Deer, Bear, Elk or Moose or whatever else I might hunt. Like someone else said, I keep finding 8mm bullets when all the others are out.
The 8mm Rem Mag and the 325 Short mag seem to be the most common magnums in the class, the 8mm-06, 8x62, 8x64, & 8x68 are pretty hard to come by around here.
 
Is there something out there with even more punch than 8mm Rem Mag?

Not without wildcatting.

Why would you need more? From a 24" 700 BDL, I'm pushing 180's @ 3,315 FPS and 220's @ 2,965. And those loads are not even maximum.

If you look at bullet selection you can see few choices in 8mm while there are hundreds in .308 or 7mm (.284).

Commercially available bullets in .323 run 125-250 grains, and include plenty that are designed for 8mm Mag velocities, such as the Barnes TSX, Nosler Ballistic tip & Accubond, Sierra Gameking & Matchking, Woodleigh Weldcore and many others.

http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=24&newcategorydimensionid=6300&pageNumber=1

The 8mm mag is a hunting cartridge, not a bench rest round. For it's purpose, the bullet selection is more than adequate.
 
I personally like 8mm Mauser, but that's me. It's a little more powerful than .30-06 in proper full-power loadings. Only problem is that it's hard to get new rifles chambered for it anymore. E.R. Shaw does make barrels for it, though.
 
I am looking to build (or have built...I have a great gunsmith) an 8mm custom bolt. Question is, what chamberings are available and what are members' experiences with these? I am willing to custom form brass, if necessary, but I don't want to go the whole distance of pioneering an entirely new cartidge. Is there something out there with even more punch than 8mm Rem Mag?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

No the 8MM Rem Mag is built on the full length 375 H&H case which is BIG. Don't know of another "factory" 8MM more powerful.
 
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